I Don’t Discuss Politics. I Bake Cookies Instead.

We are just over two weeks from the Presidential election and the country is shrouded in red, white and blue as the autumnal winds romantically hiss to the tune of “The Star Spangled Banner.”
 I wish I could say that it is therefore a time when people from all walks of life, across a vast geographical area, hold hands and unite in solidarity to delve deeply into and debate thoughtfully the intricacies of policy, economics, society, technology, sustainability and education with the sophisticated goal of respectfully electing the next President of the United States of America. I wish that I could say that. But I can’t. So I won’t.

More appropriately, it is a time when, in what appears to be desperation, seemingly good people (and others) turn into liars and master the arts of oversimplification and taking “sh*t” out of context. It is a time when, after asking someone about the weather, you are cornered and giant spoonfuls of political propaganda are shoved down your throat.

Relentless, never-ending and persistent is the inescapable political prattling. (I am typing this from under my bed covers in fear). Nowhere is this more evident than on Facebook. We have all stopped updating our “statuses” with photos of how good we look or of our children in exchange for some vague and under-researched commentary concerning the most recent debate and we all think that we are experts.

On one side of the race is a not-liberalistic enough, gulag supporting, deficit building dude who wants to double the wealth of illegal immigrants in the US. On the other is an out-of-touch, super-rich, misogynist, business man who will make it federal law for women to make dinner and carry guns to school. I told you it was a case of oversimplification.

I am not a rich white middle aged male and thus the assumption tends to be that I am an Obama supporter because any respectable 30 year old Mexican-American woman must be a Democrat. Right?. “Not necessarily”. After the shock and when prompted for more, I simply say that “I don’t discuss politics, I bake instead.”  After all, we all have our views and will make the most reasoned decisions we can. Let’s avoid the social drama and disagreement and keep things neutral as we enjoy some double chocolate chip cookies and let the electoral system do its job. Happy Voting. Now. Would you like a cookie?